Hidden Talent

Chapter 1: Into the Facility

I like making sand castles. I make many of them at the seashore beside my house. It's a sad thing that they crumble minutes later. I tried to focus hard, even if I pictured them perfectly in my mind.

People said that I have a talent in making sand castles, and I needed more practice to let them stand for a long time.

Damn. I made like a million sand castles. Just kidding, I'm just exaggerating.

Actually, I was blessed with the power of earth and sand. Well, I'd rather have some flashy powers like most popular superheroes. Most of the time, I use my power in making sand castles. How lame.

Together with my best friend Carl, a short, chubby guy with a crew-cut hair, who wears eyeglasses and has the power of plants, we could make a garden. I'd guess we're into nature, something like protectors of nature.

"Oh shoot! I fell asleep."

I woke up suddenly while riding on a special bullet train together with the twins Beth and Carl. He jolted. Beth has stomach problems and is currently in the restroom.

"Good morning, Eleanor. You were drooling a while ago."

"It's actually almost noon," I thought.

I punched him gently.

"Hey!"

"Where are we?"

"Beats me." He scanned the windows. "I think we're halfway."

Carl returned to his music world. He always wear his wireless headphones whenever he goes out.

I slouched myself and put my chin on my fist.

We are on our way to RTMTC. Well, I don't know what it means but, according to my father, it is a facility that trains people with special powers who are unable to use them properly. He suggested me to go there to improve my skills in making sand castles. Who knows? I'll make my place a tourist attraction for sand castles. That's a good motivation. Since he was a former trainer in that facility, I was able to enrol with his help. He used to be popular because of his power which earned the monicker "King of Earth Defense." And now, I already have the nickname "Queen of the Sand Castles" from my mother, which sounds good but I feel a little bit of disappointment deep inside.

"Hey, Carl. Can I read one of your books?"

He nodded.

The title of the book is "Basics of Talent Manifestations". Actually, I read this book a hundred times, well, just to pass time. According to the book, the power I have is called talent manifestation, also known as TM. It is a special gift for every person. TM is acquired on birth, but some people don't have it. TM works if you think about it and focus at the same time, it will manifest, or materialize. In my case, when I think of it, it will gradually form into the design I had in my mind. However, just like making sand castles manually, using powers makes oneself tired. That's why I always sleep with the right amount of time. In Carl's case, he can't produce strong, green plants. He always summon yellowish crooked vines only.

"Eleanor! You're awake already."

Beth just came back from the restroom. She has the same height as Carl's. Her shoulder-length wavy red hair is swaying as she approaches us.

"Yeah, and I am reading this book again."

"Again? No wonder you memorized the whole book." She giggled while staring me with her blue eyes.

"Hey!"

Beth chuckled.

I glanced at the window. The sun is partially hiding in the clouds. Despite that, I could feel that the weather is too hot. The air conditioner in the train couldn't negate the heat.